The basket, constructed in 2001 from wigwas (birch bark), wishkbemishkos (sweet grass) and gawey (porcupine quills), was originally commissioned as a present for a spiritual leader among the Three Fires communities of Walpole Island, Ontario, Canada.

It was designed to honor the leader’s clan (Bear), the Clan’s role as keepers or protectors of the medicine and the various types of food bears eat (strawberries, blueberries and the Coho salmon.)

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